Jewel-Osco buys Fox River Grove Dominick's

FOX RIVER GROVE – People will be able to buy their groceries in the village again.

The former Dominick's location at 800 Northwest Highway is set to become a Jewel-Osco, according to a news release.

The location was one of five former Dominick's stores that Jewel's parent company, Albertson's announced the purchase of on Thursday. "We're excited to have them," said Village Administrator Derek Soderholm.

"Hopefully they get it up and running and we'll get people shopping soon," Soderholm added.

Two locations in Chicago and one location in Merionette Park and in Lake Zurich also were acquired. The exact price of the purchase was not disclosed.

Jewel late last year purchased four Chicago-area Dominick's location, and the company is investing $100 million into new projects and remodels this year.

Fox River Grove officials were aware a grocery store was in negotiations to buy the vacant Dominick's, but did not know it was Jewel-Osco until Thursday, Soderholm said.

Even though the Village Board in January was prepared to discuss a redevelopment agreement for a new grocer, Soderholm said no agreement is under discussion now.

When Jewel opens the Fox River Grove location and how many people will be employed has yet to be determined, said Communications Manager Allison Sperling.

With the five additional locations, Jewel would have 185 stores in the Chicago area.

"We want to serve as many shoppers as we can," Sperling said. "Whether they lost their home [grocery store], we want to serve them in an existing Jewel-Osco store or one of those nine."

McHenry County still has two vacant Dominick's properties after parent company, Safeway, left the Chicago area at the end of last year. One location is in Lake in the Hills at the northeast corner of Randall and Algonquin roads. The other is along Route 14 in Crystal Lake.